Chen Formally Consents to Recount

U.S. Experts Complete
Taiwan Visit to Probe
Assassination Attempt

A Wall Street Journal News Roundup

Updated March 30, 2004 7:34 p.m. ET

TAIPEI, Taiwan -- Taiwan President Chen Shui-bian formally consented to a recount of the close vote that re-elected him, as independent U.S. forensics experts wrapped up a two-day visit to gather evidence on the election-eve assassination attempt against Mr. Chen.

As he had promised, Mr. Chen wrote Taiwan's High Court on Tuesday, urging it to immediately launch a recount of the March 20 vote. In doing so, he endorsed opposition calls for a new tally and drastically speeded up what could have been a lengthy and complicated...